Senate approves bill requiring state employers to address bullying and abusive conduct in workplace violence plans

The New York State Senate passed legislation on March 17, 2025, that amends existing workplace-violence prevention law to add abusive conduct and bullying to the list of hazards state employers must address and to require training for employees and supervisors.

The change, sponsored by Senator Ramos, applies to the State of New York and its agencies and was approved by the Senate on a 53-7 roll call vote. The bill specifies that employers with covered workforces must develop and implement written workplace violence prevention programs that identify risk factors, establish reporting systems and provide training. The statute takes effect on the 180th day after the bill becomes law.

Supporters and the sponsor framed the bill as a training and program requirement. Senator Ramos said the measure focuses on ensuring supervisors and agencies have training to prevent bullying and abusive conduct, and she framed it as part of protecting state workers. During debate Senator Ramos noted a prior veto by Governor Kathy Hochul (veto message 130), quoting the governor’s concern that the earlier bill “does not define the specific conduct that is being prohibited, which would likely lead to confusion for employees, disparate application of the laws, and potential legal challenges.” Ramos said the current measure was being advanced without the governor’s proposed changes.

Opponents and questioners pressed the sponsor on scope and operational details. Senator Walzick repeatedly asked whether the bill applies to corrections officers and whether the law would require prison administrators to take actions such as separating violent inmates from staff. Ramos and other supporters said the bill’s requirements apply to employee training and to employers’ written prevention programs, not to criminal sanctions or to operational inmate management decisions. Ramos emphasized that the change requires state agencies to evaluate workplaces for risk factors and to add abusive conduct and bullying to those evaluations.

The sponsor said the bill does not alter existing coverage for assault and homicide in statute but requires agencies to include bullying and abusive conduct in risk assessments and written prevention programs; it also requires incident reporting systems and training for supervisors. Debate included examples and hypothetical scenarios raised by questioners; the sponsor responded that the measure is chiefly about training and written program requirements for state employers.

The final recorded negative votes named in the transcript were Senators Chan, Helming, Murray, Oberector, Walzick, White and Senator Barello. The bill was recorded as passing with 53 ayes and 7 nays.

The bill amends provisions within the Labor Law that already require written workplace violence prevention programs; the measure’s stated effective date in the transcript is the 180th day after enactment.

Proponents said the change will expand protections and training for state employees, including supervisors, while opponents warned that some implementation details remain unclear and that the governor previously raised definitional concerns.

The Senate reading closed after the roll call and the clerk announced the bill as passed. The statute’s filing and any required regulatory or agency guidance will determine how agencies implement the new training and reporting obligations.